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Kuwait Writers Association Launches Poetry, Novel and Short Story Award

The Kuwait Writers Association has announced the launch of an award for poetry, novels and short stories during a press conference attended by the award’s patron, Sheikha Afrah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, members of the Association’s Board of Directors, and a distinguished gathering of intellectuals and writers.

Hmaidi Al Mutairi, Secretary General of the Association, stated that the launch of the award under the patronage of Sheikha Afrah Al Mubarak Al Sabah represents a significant milestone in Kuwait’s literary landscape. “While it is initially a local prize, he expressed hope that it would attain the stature of prestigious Arab literary awards,” he said.

Al Mutairi underscored that the award will operate independently from the Association’s Board to ensure transparency, credibility and objectivity. He stated that the award will be overseen by a dedicated Board of Trustees, comprising Dr. Sulaiman Al Shatti, Dr. Nouria Al Roumi, and Dr. Mursal Al Ajmi. The award will also have an independent jury.

Sheikha Afrah Al Sabah expressed her profound thanks to the Association and its Secretary General for launching such a distinguished award, which coincides with the nation-wide celebrations of Kuwait’s designation as the Capital of Arab Culture and Media for 2025.

“The Writers Association is one of the key cultural beacons in our Arab world, having nurtured many esteemed writers and creative authors. Credit must also be given to the Literary Club, established in 1924, which played a significant role in shaping the literary character of Kuwaiti society,” she remarked.

Sheikha Afrah Al Sabah also highlighted the predominantly individual and grassroots nature of Kuwait’s cultural and literary activities, emphasising that these efforts were not government-driven. “From the outset, literary and cultural initiatives in Kuwait have been the result of individual and collective passion. As part of my social responsibility, I firmly believe that culture thrives when books flourish, and it prospers when writers and publishers are supported and empowered to flourish and produce creative literary works,” she added.

The eligibility criteria for the award are as follows:

• The applicant must hold a valid membership with the Kuwaiti Writers Association.
• The submitted work must have been published within the past three years.
• The work must be written in fluent Arabic.
• Resubmissions of previously submitted works will not be accepted.

The Award categories include Best Kuwaiti Novel, Best Kuwaiti Collection of Poetry, Best Playscript, Best Children’s Story, Best Short Story, and the Best Critical Article on a Kuwaiti Literary Work.